All-Stars take turns kissing Mariano's rings

NEW YORK — For years, Mariano Rivera has been regarded as the best closer in the game, shattering bats and egos with his signature cutter.

JUSTIN RODRIGUEZ AND WILLIAM MONTGOMERY

NEW YORK — For years, Mariano Rivera has been regarded as the best closer in the game, shattering bats and egos with his signature cutter.

Count San Francisco closer Sergio Romo, who helped the Giants win the World Series last year, as a Rivera believer. There are a lot of Rivera admirers at Citi Field this week, players from the American and National Leagues who will witness Rivera take part in his last All-Star Game on Tuesday.

They are all in awe of him. Not just because of Rivera's stuff and his five World Series rings, but for his longevity and class.

Romo said Monday that he thinks Rivera is the best pitcher in the history of the game.

"To me, he's the best ever to step on a mound. He's the best guy I've seen in my generation, in my life," said Romo, who saved three games for San Francisco in last year's World Series win over Detroit. "Based on his production, based on what he's done, I don't see anyone ever coming close to the track record he's had. Coming in as a starter, finishing as the best closer ever, it's impressive to watch. He's a role model for a lot of us, a hero for a lot of us."

During Monday's AL media session inside the Jackie Robinson Rotunda at Citi Field, reporters swarmed Rivera's table, going 30 deep for the 45-minute session. The farewell tour continues for Rivera, who has said he will retire after this season. Rivera, 43, has 30 saves in 32 opportunities with a 1.83 ERA this year. He has 638 career saves.

"I don't throw a cutter, so I can't emulate what he does," said Atlanta closer Craig Kimbrel, who has 26 saves this season. "Mariano is definitely the mold every closer looks at. Not to say we all want to go out and do what he's done, because that's not possible. It's something that you can't even imagine doing. Nobody can go out and throw a Mariano cutter. But you watch him and try to learn from him."

Kansas City Royals outfielder Alex Gordon is perhaps the only AL hitter who will miss Rivera. Gordon wants Rivera to pitch long enough for him to get a hit off the closer. In six career at-bats against Rivera, Gordon is 0-for-6 with two strikeouts.

"And 10 broken bats," Gordon said. "I was hoping he'd stick around a couple of more years so I could finally get a hit off of him. He's been great for the game of baseball. But it's not fun hearing his walk-up music in the ninth inning."

Chicago White Sox starting pitcher Chris Sale, 24, said he remembered watching the 2001 World Series as a child. Sale, a southpaw, found himself pulling for Randy Johnson, a pitcher to whom Sale has often been compared.

Looking back, Sale said he's gained plenty of respect for Rivera in the years since that Yankees-Diamondbacks World Series.

"I saw him growing up and watching him play, you see how he handles himself and how humble and professional he is," Sale said. "Whatever is better than a first-ballot Hall of Famer, he's it."

Texas closer Joe Nathan, a 1992 Pine Bush graduate who is making his sixth All-Star appearance, has long admired Rivera.

"We've definitely gotten to know each other as the years have gone on," Nathan said. "We have a mutual respect for one another. Just knowing the type of guy he is, that's just a guy who everyone is drawn to, attracted to. You have to look up to him, not just for what he does on the field, but how he handles himself off of it."